Shane Lowry faces an anxious wait to see if he has secured an automatic spot on the European Ryder Cup team.
The Irish star currently holds the final automatic qualifying spot for next month’s showpiece tournament in New York, but with no Ryder Cup points at stake at this weekend’s Tour Championship, Lowry could be overtaken by Rasmus Hojgaard.
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Shane Lowry is in danger of missing out on automatic qualification for the Ryder CupCredit: Getty
A top-30 finish for Hojgaard at the British Masters this week would be enough to snatch the sixth and final automatic spot.
The Dane has finished 16th and 3rd in the last two British Masters events.
Lowry is ruing disappointing results at both the St. Jude Championship and last week’s BMW Championship leaving just 13.6 points between him and Hojgaard.
He is also without a top 10 finish on the PGA Tour since May.
But with no points on offer for Lowry at East Lake Golf Club this weekend, Hojgaard knows automatic qualification is within his grasp.
The world no.68 is currently eighth in the standings, but both golfers above him – Lowry and Sepp Straka – are competing in the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship instead of the British Masters.
So if Hojgaard ties for 29th at the very least at the Belfry, then Lowry would need to be picked by Team Europe captain Luke Donald.
Lowry was the beneficiary of the captain’s pick two years ago in Rome and early suggestions point in his favour once again with Donald likely to opt for the Irishman when he announces his six wildcards on September 1.
Team Europe has a similar feel to that of two years ago with Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, and Tyrrell Hatton having already qualified automatically.
And if Hojgaard does leapfrog Lowry this week then the six wildcards are expected to go to Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Jon Rahm.
It means the only change from Rome would be Rasmus Hojgaard replacing his twin brother Nicolai.
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Rasmus Hojgaard could book his spot in Europe’s Ryder Cup team this weekendCredit: Getty
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Lowry was part of Team Europe’s victory in Rome two years ago and has warned Team USA that they will be ready and prepared to defend their titleCredit: GettyLowry fires warning to Team USA
With Lowry likely to be involved at Bethpage Black either way, he has warned his American counterparts that Team Europe will be primed and ready to defend their title and deal with any hostile reception they receive.
“I think, if you’re prepared for something, you’ll deal with it okay. When something happens and you’re not prepared for it, that’s when it gets hard,” Lowry said.
“We’ll be prepared. Luke Donald will prepare his team very well, and we’ll be ready to go,”
Meanwhile, Team USA’s six spots were confirmed after Scottie Scheffler’s win in the BMW Championship.
Keegan Bradley’s team will consist of world number one Scheffler, U.S. Open champion JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, and Bryson DeChambeau.
Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, and Sam Burns are in the mix as wildcards while Bradley could still pick himself in a wildcard berth.
Team Europe: as it stands
Rory McIlroy (Q) – 3489.21 pointsRobert MacIntyre (Q) – 1709.94 pointsTommy Fleetwood (Q) – 1622.11 pointsJustin Rose (Q) – 1545.72 pointsTyrrell Hatton (Q) – 1279.33 pointsShane Lowry – 1275.51 points
7. Sepp Straka – 1264.27 points
8. Rasmus Hojgaard – 1261.91 points